Friday, May 15, 2015

Pundit Devakar Prasad: A tribute to an Unsung Hero and an outstanding Community Leader

Pundit Devakar Prasad: A tribute to
an Unsung Hero and an outstanding
Community Leader

Thakur Ranjit Singh

As the smoke from 13th day hawan ritual of Pundit Devakar
Prasad drifted out and settled down, the accolades this humble human being
received from all quarters make you question: If he was so great, why did he
not get recommended for Parvasi Bhatiye Award or any or Indian Awards, lurking
around in every corner and cranny? Interesting question. And more interesting
answer: The radar of so called Indian elite and “kingmakers” who decide on such
awards, and masquerade as Indian Community leaders, miss the reach to such selfless Indo-Fijian community
workers who operate at ground level, with grassroots people. It is beyond their
elitist reach.

PUNDIT DEVAKAR PRASAD - so long, Punditji. You are gone, but not forgotten. You have left a legacy of volunteering, unselfish and, altruistic services to the community, for others to emulate. You were farewelled by a huge crowd of wellwishers at Annes Funeral Home in Wiri, Auckland on 23 April, 2015.

Pundit Devakar Prasad has been virtually an unknown who rarely
featured in Indian media. He is no member of the rich and famous cocktail circuits
of Indian elite. Neither is he somebody who seeks publicity or association with
influential people or politicians to seek any personal benefit or glory. He is
a simple community-oriented, private person who believes in doing good deeds
for the community without expectation of any awards or any form of personal
gain. He never sought glory by holding to coat-tails of any politician. It is
for this reason such awards sound hollow, redundant and meaningless, only to
serve the so-called “kingmakers”.

This is because the community itself bestows rightful awards and
honour on deserving individuals. No awards are needed for those who are the
brightest star, the sun - Devakar.

[IT IS BEFITTING TO POST THIS TRIBUTE ON THE EVE OF FIJI GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY IN AUCKLAND WHICH PUNDITJI WAS VERY DILIGENTLY PLANNING]

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As the casket was carried inside Ann’s
Funeral Home and Onsite Cremations at Wiri, Manukau, Auckland, on 23 April,
2015, a great phenomenon took place. The all familiar theme of National Quiz bugle,
which was provided through courtesy of Radio Fiji, floated into the overflowing
funeral hall. It was very fitting and appropriate, as this was the funeral of
Fiji’s first Radio Quiz Master, Devakar Prasad. He suddenly left us on
Sunday 19 April, 2015 and was emotionally farewelled in Auckland.

In Toga, Nausori some 78 years ago, the last
son was born to Shiv Kumar and Maharaji, who already had five other children.
The son, was very appropriately named Devakar. It means the brightest Star of the universe-the sun
and source of energy. And that is what this Devakar rose out to be - a shining
brightest star with a very melodious and golden voice that was synonymous to
radio in Fiji.

He
joined Fiji Broadcasting Commission sometime in 1956 when radio was in its
embryonic stage in Fiji. He had a very
impressive career and activity history: retired Deputy
General Manager – Radio Fiji with 35 years of Radio journalism career, Deputy
Speaker – Fiji Parliament, General Secretary – Shri Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi
Sabha of Fiji, (largest Hindu organisation in Fiji) and Member of the Order of
Fiji – Award equivalent to MBE, and Ambassador for Universal Peace Federation.

Devakar Prasad - the original Quiz Master of Fiji Broadcasting Commission's (FBC's) extremely popular National Quiz programme that beat all other radio production for audience listening. Fiji Girmit Foundation of NZ decided to name its Girmit Quiz as Pundit Devakar Prasad Memorial Girmit Quiz, This quiz would be at the 2015 commemoration on 17 May in Auckland where his daughter, Neelima Chand from Brisbane would be the Quiz Mistress. Teams have been named according to sugar mills in Fiji- Ba/Penang, Lautoka, Labasa and Rewa.

While in Radio Fiji, he initiated and
produced some landmark and historic programmes. The most notable one was Hindi programme
of 1960s, Aap Kitna Jaante hai (how
much do you know?) which went on to become a national programme in coming
decades and became the most listened -to radio programme in Fiji’s history – The National Quiz, (Na kila kila mada) which was broadcast
in all 3 languages via cross-over, and Devakar Prasad was the original and
founding Quiz Master. Apart from that he was instrumental in organising first
faag sammelan and recording, producing and presenting Mehfil, (local singings) Ateet
Ki Awaaz (a journey down the memory lane), Kisano Ka Karikarm, (farmers programme) Adbhut Duniya, (strange, but true), among others.

When he migrated to New Zealand in 2003, he
never sat still. Punditji touched many people in many different walks of life. This
as a preacher, as a friend and grog-mate (he loved his grog and stories that go
with it), as a respected community leader in organising religious, social and
cultural events, as an expert judge in musical and singing events, as a Ramayan
parcharak (narrator), delivering his discourse and lessons with relevance and reality
to us, rather than some abstract religious, meaningless and superfluous nonsensical
theories. He was very friendly and approachable person, used as a sounding
board by those needing guidance and mentoring. He has been a respectable
Indo-Fijian Qase Levu – a celebrated,
wise elder.

Pundit Devakar Prasad, ( extreme left) the Qase Levu or a wise elder from the community , seen here participating in Ministry of Social Development/ Police / Auckland Council and Waitakere Indian Association joint workshop on Family Violence at Kelston Community Centre, Auckland in June, 2012. He always volunteered his services for Community Well-being.

The Shiv Temple and community centre in
Manurewa, Auckland held its inauguration in 2004 when Devakar was Master of
Ceremonies of this international event where Hindus from around the world
converged for this big solemn religious occasion. In 2005 he joined Apna 990
Hindi Radio Station in Auckland as a trainer, mentor to young announcers and
convenor and producer of programmes raising awareness about religion and
culture to people. The “Jaagran” or awakening programme was geared at reviving
of good values in people.

He also worked across other radio stations
like Radio Tarana and Humm FM Radio Station in Auckland in producing specialist
programmes with relevance to history, arts and Indian culture. With his nearly
four decades of audio journalism experience, he remained a useful sounding
board and trainer to new-born radio stations in Auckland. Unlike some radio
stations which run on cut-throat competition with slogan of “exclusivity”, he
always promoted goodwill among media organisations

In 2012, his expertise was called in to
commemorate Girmit Remembrance Day organised by Waitakere Indian Association to
mark the arrival of first Indian Indentured labourers to Fiji. In 2013, when
the support for Girmit was withdrawn, he joined with community leaders from
Indo- Fijian Community in formation of a new body, Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand, which was geared at reconnecting,
reclaiming and restoring Indo- Fijian history. He was the founding President
and a founding Trustee of the Foundation, which is gearing to have its third
annual commemoration on 17 May, 2015 in Auckland. A very successful
commemoration were held in 2013 and 2014. The latter year saw a renowned Fiji
Historian, Professor Brij Lal from Australian National University in Canberra
as the Chief Guest.

As a Trustee of Girmit Foundation and author
of “Tears in Paradise” Rajendra Prasad, wrote in Fiji Sun: “This year, he had
taken upon himself to highlight the sinking of ship Syria on Nasilai reef on
May 11, 1884. He had made extensive preparations to present a moving tribute to
those who lost their lives, including the Naselai villagers who risked their
lives to rescue others.” With his untimely farewell, the Girmit Day he so
tirelessly planned for on May 17, 2015 will go ahead as a fitting tribute to a
visionary leader.

This year sees the Fijian Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest and
revival of Devakar’s 1970s National Quiz legacy, continued by his eldest
daughter, Neelima Chand of Brisbane. It has been appropriately named as Pundit Devakar Prasad Memorial Girmit Quiz.

Never to sit still, he was again snapped by
Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust in 2012 when they decided to commence a temple
and community centre project in Brick Street, Henderson, Auckland. He came on
board as a volunteer consultant and has been the backbone of this $6m project
ever since. This dream is now turning into reality, with the scheduled opening
in June 2015. Much success of that project is attributed to the expertise,
management and administrative capability of Devakar

As a scholar in media and a media
commentator, I noted hollowness of various Indian and media awards which seemed
to be given to those who benefitted the media, advertisers or elite influential
individuals. In response to that frustration, I had posted on Facebook photos
of two inseparable volunteering community leader friends: Pundit Devakar Prasad
and Master Shiu Charan, and challenged the movers and shakers to get real and
recognise unpaid and unsung heroes in the Indo-Fijian community. I complained
that ironically some awards have been given to people who are already paid and
remunerated for doing their job. Great are those unsung heroes providing free
service to the community.

Two inseparable friends, and Unsung Heroes of Indo-Fijian Community, Master Shiu Charan (left) and Punditji, who despite their selfless service to the community as volunteers, were never considered or recognized by multitudes of Indian awards lurking around us. . However, they need no awards,as they never expect any awards and glory in their service to the community. They are aptly crowned as Unsung Community Heroes by the Community. That is more the reason, why many awards from faceless judges sound hollow.

I believe, in response to that, one media
had put a new award of Kiwi Indian Unsung Hero of the year. I found it fitting to nominate Punditji. I
submitted this, among others: “He is virtually an unknown who rarely
feature in Indian media. He is no member of the rich and famous cocktail
circuit. Neither is he somebody who seeks publicity or association with
influential people or politicians to seek any personal benefit or glory. He is
a simple community-oriented, private person who believes in doing good deeds
for the community without expectation of any awards or any form of personal
gain.”

Now, Punditji is no longer around to receive
the award even if it was given to a very deserving person. But perhaps the
media could redeem my criticism by posthumously granting the inaugural Kiwi Indian Unsung Hero of the Year Award to
a very deserving Indo-Fijian who never sought such award in the selfless
voluntary service to community-and humanity.

Who cares for such awards from faceless
judges? The Indo-Fijian community has judged you - YOU ARE AND WILL REMAIN OUR UNSUNG HERO, PUNDITJI.

PUNDIT DEVAKAR PRASAD - THE UNSUNG HERO OF INDO-FIJIAN COMMUNITY. FIJI PUNDIT blog salutes a great selfless community leader who has left very big shoes to fill.

[About
the Author; Thakur Ranjit Singh apart from operating FIJI PUNDIT blog, is a
Media Commentator and Secretary of Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand, and
worked closely with Pundit Devakar Prasad in planning organizing past Girmit Remembrance Days in Auckland. This is fitting salute to a great mentor]